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Wednesday, November 12, 2014

Nicki Minaj Apologises Amid Criticism Her New Music Video 'Glorifies Hitler' And Says She 'Didn't Come Up With Concept'

Nicki Minaj had been accused of blatantly using Nazi imagery in the newly released video for her song Only

Animated video features Minaj as a dictator and appeared inspired by the black and white Nazi-propaganda films of German director Leni Riefenstahl

An army of soldiers wear red armbands reminiscent of those worn by the Nazis, while large red banner flags appear with a swastika-like symbol

The video for her new song Only was heavily criticised for use of Nazi imagery and even 'glorifying Hitler' following its release on Saturday.

But now, Nicki Minaj has apologised via Twitter, claiming she did not 'come up with the concept' for the animated film.'I didn't come up w/the concept, but I'm very sorry & take full responsibility if it has offended anyone,' she wrote on her Twitter page on Monday. 'I'd never condone Nazism in my art.'

The 31-year-old claimed inspiration for the video was taken from 'a cartoon on Cartoon Network called Metalocalypse & Sin City.'Nicki also said the video's producer and videographer are Jewish.'Both the producer, & person in charge of over seeing the lyric video (one of my best friends & videographer: A. Loucas), happen to be Jewish,' she added.

In fact, as she made her way through LAX on Monday after hosting the MTV Europe Music Awards in Glasgow, Scotland, the singer clarified her comments via TMZ video.When asked by the website if she had anything to say regarding accusations that her video is anti-Semitic, she replied: 'No, this is my new Jewish boyfriend Alex. why the f*** would I do that. We did this together.'

The star then gestured to a man strolling through the airport alongside her.The animated video, which also features Chris Brown, Drake and Lil Wayne, shows Minaj as a dictator type figure and appeared to be inspired by the black and white Nazi-propaganda films of German director Leni RiefenstahlAn army of soldiers wear red armbands reminiscent of those worn by the Nazis, while large red banner flags appear with an overlapping Y-M symbol in a design eerily similar to a swastika.

YM stands for Young Money, the record label founded by rapper Lil Wayne, who appears in the video as industrialist Henry Ford, along with Drake who appears as the pope, while Chris Brown appears as a military leader.'Hey @NickiMinaj thanks for the blatant Nazi imagery in your new video! really great allusion to persecution & genocide' tweeted Melissa Morgan.On Reddit, was video was discussion is length under the heading 'The new Nicki Minaj video Only is glorifying Nazism and Hitler'.Other criticism on Twitter was directed at Drake, who is half Jewish.‘Drake I don’t get how you’re Jewish participating in a video that is clearly mimicking Nazi propaganda like are you dumb or do u not care?,’ read one tweet.